National Survey of the Smoking Cessation Services in Iran’s Primary Health Care System

Aim: Delivery of smoking cessation supports via primary health care settings could be an effective way to increase people access to cessation services. This study was aimed at evaluating structural characteristics of smoking cessation services established within the Iranian Primary Health care system.
Materials and Methods: In order to obtain structural information about smoking cessation services, firstly a phone call was made with coordinating authorities of tobacco control programs in each university which are under supervision of Ministry of Health. Secondly, after describing the objectives of project they were asked to fill the related questionnaire. The questionnaire was available at MOH website and follow-up for its completion was done via telephone call.
Results: Smoking cessation centers started their activities in 2007 and their number increased between 2008 and 2011. In all primary health centers, smoking cessation services are provided free of charge. In sixty percents of centers individual therapy was used, a combination therapy (including pharmacotherapy) is highly preferred. Nicotine patch was the most common drug which is used (62%) in smoking cessation clinics. General physicians are the main providers of smoking cessation programs in health care centers (87%). The number of smoking cessation centers in primary health care system decreased during years of 2011(89 centers) and 2012(79 centers) compare with 158 centers in 2010. There isn’t national quit line in Iran.
Conclusion: This study shows smoking cessation programs provided in primary health care system in Iran. The present study gathered useful and updated information on structural of smoking cessation services in Iran’s primary health care system.